Department of Justice Canada Minister's Transition Book (Pocket version)

SHARED LEAD - Quick Responses to Hot Issues

(Minister of Health, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness)

The Cannabis Act put in place a new legal framework that takes a comprehensive public health approach to cannabis.
The Cannabis Act is designed to better protect the health and safety of Canadians, to keep cannabis out of the hands of youth while keeping profits out of the hands of criminals and organized crime.
The Cannabis Act has made it a criminal offence to sell cannabis to a minor and create significant penalties for those who engage young Canadians in cannabis-related offences.

Canada is aware of reports of localized shortages of cannabis products in some markets and for some product lines. This is not – as some have suggested – the result of a national shortage of supply of cannabis.
In fact, the data reported by federal licence holders and provincial and territorial public bodies via the national Cannabis Tracking System indicate that total inventories of cannabis far exceed reported sales.
Canada stands ready to support its provincial and territorial partners in working through the challenges they are currently facing to better achieve our common objectives of protecting the health and safety of Canadians and displacing the illegal cannabis market.

Keeping communities safe and reducing violent crime is a priority for the Government of Canada.
The existing Firearms Marking Regulations under the Firearms Act, scheduled to come into force on December 1, 2018, are being deferred until December 1, 2020.
The Government is continuing work to develop an effective markings regime that enables law enforcement to effectively trace crime guns, without imposing undue constraints or costs on firearms owners and businesses.
Gun violence and criminal use of guns is a complex issue and there is no one solution to address it.
The Government of Canada has a comprehensive approach to reduce gun violence. I will defer to my colleague Minister Blair for details on these initiatives.

(Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness)

I am mandated to support my colleague the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness in his efforts to bring forward new legislation that strengthens national security accountability and better balances collective security with rights and freedoms.
If passed and brought into force, Bill C-59 an Act respecting national security matters and other measures will enact important review mechanisms and other safeguards that are intended to keep Canadians safe while protecting our rights and freedoms.
My department will continue working with Minister Goodale’s department and with other departments and agencies of the Government of Canada to protect our national security and the security of Canadians. This is a fundamental responsibility of government and one that I can assure you we take very seriously.

(Minister of Crown - Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, Minister of Indigenous Services)

Government of Canada’s renewed commitment to promoting Indigenous rights is focused on reconciliation and renewing the Government’s relationship with Indigenous peoples, based on the recognition of rights, respect, co-operation and partnership.
Indigenous self-determination requires that Indigenous peoples lead the way and lead the work of re-building their Nations and governments.
For proper Nation-to-Nation and government-to-government relations to emerge, Indigenous laws, governments, and jurisdictions must be revitalized, and be organized as proper title and rights holders.

(Minister of Natural Resources, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Minister of Finance)

Major energy projects that cross provincial and territorial borders in Canada have to go through a rigorous, multi-stage review process This includes a National Energy Board (NEB) environmental assessment and regulatory review that assesses environmental impacts, takes into account scientific evidence, safety and security of operations, and sets conditions for approval as well as consultation with Indigenous groups potentially impacted by the project.
Our Government is committed to renewing the nation to nation relationship between the Crown and Indigenous peoples of Canada, and we will continue to consult with Indigenous peoples before making decisions on this file.
We appointed the Honourable Frank Iacobucci, former Supreme Court of Canada Justice, to provide oversight and direction in carrying out the consultation process with Indigenous groups potentially impacted by the project. The work on these consultations is already underway.
Litigation challenging the federal approval of TMX project – Please refer to Major Litigation
Reference by British Colombia to the BC Court of Appeal regarding the applicability of its draft legislation to an interprovincial pipeline - Please refer to Major Litigation

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